Cernovich: ‘Lead us back to where we belong’

MANLIUS – In a special meeting Monday night, the old Bureau Valley School Board adjourned, and four board members passed their seats onto new members.

Board members Keith Bolin, Myron Rumbold, Jim Lilley and Roger Craine were recognized for their years of service before stepping down.

Bolin thanked the board and said it’s been a pleasure working with them.

“We got promoted tonight. We got promoted to citizens. I think that’s the highest rank in the district,” he said. “It’s an honor to serve and a real pleasure.”

New board members William Gebeck, Matthew Wiggim, Justin Yepsen and Don King replaced the seats and now sit with Don DeWaele, Kent Siltman and Rick Cernovich.

Cernovich was elected board president; King was elected board vice president; and DeWaele was re-elected board secretary.

The board set a new time and date for monthly meetings. The meetings will now take place at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month beginning July.

The board also reappointed Kim Jensen as treasurer and RIta Hanna as alternative education treasurer. They reappointed Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor of Chicago as legal counsel and approved legal counsel Miller, Hall & Triggs of Peoria to finish litigation involved in the demolition of the old Sheffield School building before releasing their services. The board agreed to keep Peoples National Bank and Citizens First State Bank as the designation of depository of district funds.

Before adjourning, Cernovich said he is looking forward to working with the new board and hopes to move forward in bringing Bureau Valley back to where it once was.

“Bureau Valley has been on a downward spiral for a while now,” he said. “One of the first things to do is start a new search for a superintendent to lead us back to where we belong.”